Should you sign a contract for instruction?

[golden arhat]

Originally Posted by lkfmdc

How about the idea of sticking out something even if it doesn't give you instant gratification? How about the idea of hard work? How about the idea of being an adult for lord's sake!

i know where ur coming from
but i tried sticking it out for 2 years with my old teacher and all he dd was take my money

i think u should probaby try to find a middle ground

[SanHeChuan]

Tuition at any university, is only for the semester, 4 months. You could try a semester as a Medical student, if you got into the school, and then quit.

I think contracts (In the context we are talking about) mostly serve to take advantage of new students who don't know what they are getting into. Instructors see it as the greater good, taking money from those who don't want to be there to support those who do. Contracts make good business sense, but taking money from someone who doesn't partake of your services, whether they are available or not, is morally objectionable to me.

It depends on how you use them, If a student only comes sporadically over the course of the year then he should pay for the whole year, not just the months he showed up. A student who doesn't want to be there anymore shouldn't have to pay, and the "Man up" argument isn't a very good one.

Personally I've never had a problem with a contract. As an idealist I may be against them but on a practical level, you got to do what you got to do. Right now I'm on a 3 Three 3 year contract!

[Wong Ying Home]

I use a quarterly contract scheme with 30 days cancellation notice

[The Xia]

Originally Posted by lkfmdc

I, like anyone who has been in the industry for a while, have seen so many bad clients that I understand the need to protect your interests.

If you charge at the beginning of each month, your interests are protected if the person decides to leave.

Originally Posted by lkfmdc

ISorry, there are a lot of irresponsible and childish people who can't make a simple committment, don't want to take any responsibility and want their mistakes to come out of your pocket.

If you charge at the beginning of each month, nothing is coming out of your pocket. In fact, you are making out on the deal if the person leaves before the month is up. And once again, not everyone who drops out is childish. Martial arts are not for everybody and different people prefer different styles and schools.

Originally Posted by lkfmdc

People need to be adults, but so few are.....

Just because martial arts, or a certain style or school, isn't for someone doesn't mean that person isn't an adult.

[SPJ]

I run into a couple of interesting things;

1. gift card. you may give your friends the gift card for some MA lessons.

2. time sheet/attendance sheet. when you enroll a MA class, you may finish the classtime any way you want, meaning, no matter what reasons, you may not make it. you may come to class at later time if it is available, again. you paid for the class time/slots, you may finish the time slots any way you want in 5 years or more. talking about a commitment delayed and honored.

3. unused classtime transferrable. if you really dun want to do it period, you may give the time slot to a friend who will attend.

--

would not be a dream?! too good to be true.

[PangQuan]

im a fan of the introductory contract. one trial/viewing

sign contract for 1-3 months. if you like it, then go for the year+ contract.

simple

[Mas Judt]

Contracts are fair. The risk an individual takes to open a school requires some mitigation in order to be able to manage the cashflow that allows for a good student experience.

It's good to live up to your obligations. I have no problem signing on the dotted line if i am committed to something.

[Fu-Pow]

Originally Posted by lkfmdc

Go to NYU and tell them you want to pay per class you attend and if you don't complete the semester you want a refund......

I think there is a problem with perceived value. People realize the value of college education...ie more earning potential. But the value of martial arts training is more ephemeral...its not as highly valued. Plus you have the charlatans out there that lower the perceived value even more. So you're always going to have people that are trying to chince there MA teachers. Not saying its right...

FP

[Oso]

as I sit here on the 30th sweating the rent check tomorrow because 30% of my student base hasn't paid yet....contracts are going to be a reality at my school before too long.

martial arts is all about commitment, if as student can't commit to being cognizant enough to write a check every month...then a contract is necessary.

[PangQuan]

Originally Posted by Oso

as I sit here on the 30th sweating the rent check tomorrow because 30% of my student base hasn't paid yet....contracts are going to be a reality at my school before too long.

martial arts is all about commitment, if as student can't commit to being cognizant enough to write a check every month...then a contract is necessary.

they are just lucky you accept checks!

[TenTigers]

I have trouble wrapping my brain around why people think it's perfectly ok to rip off MA instructors. You always hear,"I didn't come in for two weeks,month,etc. do I still have to pay?" or."We're going on vacation for two weeks, etc"
Yet, you wouldn't DREAM of saying,
"I didn't drive this week, so I won't be making a full car payment"
"We're going on vacation, so we won't pay the mortgage"
"I didn't eat the peas and carrots, so could you take that off the bill?"
"I know I ordered the fillet, but after I ate some of it, I decided to go for pizza. Can I have my money back?"
Perhaps I can tell my landlord, or the utilities company the same thing.

[NJM]

I can see why some instructors need to, but it really depends on how much morality the instructor must give up in order to make enough money, and what morals they are able to set aside to do so.

[TenTigers]

Why is it the instructor's morality the issue, and not the morality of the student?
I can understand if the instructor is teaching McKwoon crapola, but if he is teaching a good class, good system,good curriculum, etc, then his morality is not in question.

[The Xia]

Originally Posted by TenTigers

I have trouble wrapping my brain around why people think it's perfectly ok to rip off MA instructors. You always hear,"I didn't come in for two weeks,month,etc. do I still have to pay?" or."We're going on vacation for two weeks, etc"
Yet, you wouldn't DREAM of saying,
"I didn't drive this week, so I won't be making a full car payment"
"We're going on vacation, so we won't pay the mortgage"
"I didn't eat the peas and carrots, so could you take that off the bill?"
"I know I ordered the fillet, but after I ate some of it, I decided to go for pizza. Can I have my money back?"
Perhaps I can tell my landlord, or the utilities company the same thing.

I think you are talking about something else. Like if the student doesn't want to pay because he didn't attend classes. Is that what you are saying? If so, that problem is solved by collecting payment at the beginning of the month. If he doesn't show up for classes that month, you still get paid.

[PangQuan]

i think you can break it down 2 ways.

money grubbers and martial arts instructors.

some people are just plain money grubbers. there always have been and always will be people willing to exploit just about anything to make a buck.

these are the guys you have to beware of.



then there are martial arts instructors. depending on several factors the instructor will have to make decisions. one of these decisions will be how to operate thier intruction. sometimes it will be a business, sometimes it will just be teaching. and sometimes you have the inbetween (which often times will be forced to go buisiness as they get more notice/students, as well as circumstances changing, or cut back to keep that small quaint home style instruction going)

for the instructor gearing towards the business aspect, a contract is an inevitability. put it off as long as you want. if you want to run a business and have clients who are expected to uphold a portion of a bargain, you need that shiznat in writing or you WILL get screwed.

business is business after all, and the current times will demand you run your business after a certain fassion if you want to be up to par with the times.